My favorite trail race even though I haven't finished yet. DNF two years in a row is frustrating but hasn't made me love this race any less. The addition of the 19 mile option makes it a great race for someone looking for a challenging trail and a possible future in ultra distance events. In the past it's been a 40 mile event but they added a 6 mile loop at the beginning with only 30 extra minutes on the cutoff time. Definitely a tough one for those of us riding cutoff times but a challenge I'll come back for a third try.

Pros:
-Scenery: the race starts in the dark (you'll need a headlamp) so you end up on the ridge line of the Pine Mountain Trail (PMT) just at sunrise. It's beautiful.
-Accessibility: FD Roosevelt Park is pretty narrow so the PMT is never too far from the road. This means that your cheer squad can easily hike into most of the aid stations to meet you.
-People: there's something about aid stations at trail races, and specifically ultra, that just makes me happy. They're like an oasis of awesome. The table are always stocked with water/poweraid, PB&J, M&Ms, salty treats, etc etc. Plus, the people are really helpful and encouraging. Each year I have people fill my bottles, grab snacks for me, ask me what else I need. This is all extremely helpful when all power to your brain has been delegated to other parts of your body.

Cons:
-Terrain: I love it and hate it at the same time. This is not a race for a first time trail runner. While the elevation is rolling (from a trail race perspective), the terrain itself is technical with lots of rocks, roots, and leaf cover. Even though I haven't finished the race, I feel like the fact that I haven't bit the dust either year is a win. You always see a bit of blood at the finish line. The 19 mile option is a good choice for someone who'd like to get a challenge but already has some trail experience.
-Distance: let's face it, 40 miles was already an odd distance. Why the hell they added 6 miles at the start, I have no clue. The rest of the course was exactly the same. Since I ran the race last year it felt like I was only starting at mile 0 after running for 1.5 hrs. It was a huge mental hurdle for me. Also, the cutoffs time are the same as the past. They started the race 30 minutes early but added 6 miles so it's just more difficult for those of us already at the back of the pack. I do hope they go back to 40 next year but I'll be back for attempt #3 regardless.